The South Korean violinist receives NZ$40,000, a recording contract, a tour across New Zealand and Australia and a professional development programme

2019 Winner violinist Do Gyung (Anna) Im_3_with Christine, Lady Hill and Sir Michael Hill

Do Gyung (Anna) Im with Sir Michael Hill and Christine, Lady Hill

After a final round, in which three participants performed a concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Giordano Bellincampi, Do Gyung (Anna) Im was announced as the winner of the tenth Michael Hill International Violin Competition. The South Korean violinist receives NZ$40,000, a recording contract with the Atoll label, an intensive tour across New Zealand and Australia in 2020 and a personalised professional development programme.

Second Prize of $10,000 went to the American violinist Eric Tsai, as did the Chamber Music Prize of $2,000. Third prize of $5,000 was awarded to Jevgēnijs Čepoveckis from Latvia, who also won the Audience Prize and the inaugural Arancio Prize, which consists of a two-year loan of a 1645 Nicolò Amati violin, formerly played by Christian Ferras.

Fourth prize ($3,000), fifth prize ($2,000) and sixth prize ($1,000) went respectively to Angela Sin Ying Chan from Hong Kong, Hannah Cho from the USA and Victoria Wong from Australia. The prize of $2,000 for the Best Performance of the New Zealand Commissioned Work, Lyell Cresswell’s Chatoyance, went to the Australian violinist Harry Ward. Meanwhile, Diane Huh received the New Zealand Emerging Artist Prize, which includes a two-year loan of a Riccardo Bergonzi violin, customised professional development and performance opportunities, as well as an invitation and return airfare to attend the 2020 Rome Chamber Music Festival.

The competition was started in 2001 by New Zealand jewellery entrepreneur Sir Michael Hill, himself a keen amateur violinist.

The previous edition in 2017 was won by Romanian violinist Ioana Cristina Goicea.